Solve It!

Teachers can help ensure that students (Grades 7-12) in inclusive classrooms succeed when solving mathematical word problems with Dr. Marjorie Montague’s Solve It! instructional approach. This research-based instructional approach is designed for use in a standard mathematics curriculum.

Solve It! was first validated and refined in three separate intervention studies with students between 12 and 18 years of age with mathematical learning disabilities. More recently, Solve It! was validated in two large research studies with a total of 1,059 students, conducted in inclusive general education math classrooms with average-achieving students, low-achieving students, and students with learning disabilities. Researchers found that these students evidenced significantly greater growth in math problem-solving ability than the comparison group students who received only the district curriculum. They also experienced greater growth and improvement on the state math assessment than the comparison group students. [Read a summary of the research base.]

Teachers who use Solve It! can help students develop the processes and strategies used by good problem solvers. The instructional guide and accompanying CD provide instructional guidelines, curriculum-based measures, scripted lessons, extension activities, student materials, and an Excel® spreadsheet application for creating student progress charts.

Solve It! is designed to help students develop the processes and strategies used by good problem solvers. Instruction in mathematical problem solving is provided in lessons that:

Teach critical cognitive and meta cognitive processes.

Improve students’ motivation to solve problems.

The instructional guide contains everything you need to use Solve It! Here is the table of contents: